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The Monday Round-Up: 3.20

The pros take over our Facebook Live, last chance at the IMF Kona Drawing, races on tap, recaps, and more news from the world of IRONMAN.

Weekend at a Glance

IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Rico

Canadians Sweep in San Juan

Paul Ambrose (AUS) and Taylor Reid (CAN) hammered out the fastest bikes on the day as the pair dismounted their rides accompanied by Ben Kanute (USA) and Andy Potts (USA). It was apparent from the get-go on the run that Reid, Kanute and Potts were the strongest on the day. Taylor grabbed the lead early while Kanute kept the Canuck in his sights. The pair were never separated by more than 25 seconds for the first half of the run while Potts was hanging back about 1:20 and likely shacking off the effects of a fall off his bike entering T2. In the closing half of the run, Kanute faltered and Potts capitalized on the situation. Taylor would grab the finish line tape for the win with Potts and Kanute making the podium.

Alicia Kaye (CAN) exited the water in third behind Helle Frederiksen (DEN) and Heather Lendway (USA), just six seconds back of the leader. Within the first mile of the bike, Kaye stormed to the lead and carried 4:44 advantage on Frederiksen heading into transition off the bike.

Kaye headed out on the run and struggle a bit while Stephanie Roy (CAN) was tearing through the field. Handing back time to much of the field, Kaye's lead started to evaporate in the San Jaun heat as Roy made the pass into second late in the run. Kaye would eventually get herself across the finish line for the win but not before holding off a late charge from Roy who crossed the line a mere 30 seconds after the winner

IRONMAN 70.3 Campeche

Wurtele and Don Open Season with Wins in Mexico

Heather Wurtele (CAN) proved once again she has become one of the most dominate competitors at half-distance racing. The Canadian proceeded to put a stamp the race with an early hard charging attach on the bike leg that resulted in Wurtele surging to the lead around 20 km's into the bike. Wurtele's one minute deficit was flipped over to close to a seven-minute advantage on Allison Linnell (USA) Mexico's Cecilia Perez as the women's race reach the conclusion of the 90-km bike.

It appeared that Wurtele was measure in her effort in the open 5 km of the run as the gap the second and third floated back slowly. Then Wurtele leads to second third rapidly increased leaving the field to fight it out for second and third. Wurtele would claim the lead by a 9:28 winning margin to Perez and 11:21 over Linnell.

Tim Don (GBR) is another athlete who has game dialed in at the half-distance and backed up that notion once again in Puerto Rico. Don was close to the front of exiting the water and surged to the front of the race in the opening km's of the bike. Smacking out a best bike ride by over four minutes as he carried a 5:50 lead on Cody Beals (CAN) and 7:06 on Trevor Wurtele. With a decent cushion between Don and his closest rivals, the 39-year-old handily cruised to the victory without having to go deep in the well of effort.

IRONMAN 70.3 Taiwan

Two former Olympians found success at IRONMAN 70.3 Taiwan.

34-year-old Swiss star Ruedi Wild claimed back-to-back wins in Asia with an impressive victory at Taitung, following his outstanding win at Subic Bay in the Philippines last weekend. After fending off former world champion Tim Reed and legend Craig Alexander on the run at Subic Bay, Wild knew he needed to set up his race in the swim and on the bike in the Taiwan heat. He was out of the 1.9km swim with a stellar quartet including American Tim O'Donnell, two-time world champion Michael Raelert, and four-time Olympian Sven Riederer.

The group distanced themselves on chasers on the bike before O'Donnell and Wild eked out a one minute buffer on to the two-lap run. By mid-race Wild made his move, gradually pushing clear on his way to the best run split of 1:14 and victory in 3:42.54, with O’Donnell nearly three minutes back in second, and Riederer completing the podium six minutes from the winner.

"It was similar but different...I could not be happier with my back to back wins," Wild says. "A good swim set the base for a successful day while the bike performance on my new weapon opens new opportunities. Once again I could rely on my great current running shape to celebrate another win."

Meanwhile, Chilean Barbara Riveros secured the win away from her homeland after dominating on the run. The women’s podium was clear from the beginning as they came out of the swim at the front of the field with Mariya Shorets (RUS), Radka Kahlefeldt (CZE) and Riveros clear of the pack, and never sighted again.

Kahlefeldt and Riveros quickly took control on the bike, riding together to open a six-minute advantage. Like the men, the eventual winner made the move mid-run, opening a 1:40 buffer at 11kms and her fastest split of 1:21 saw the Chilean home for the win in 4:13.21.

After three wins in a row at her home race in Pucon, this was the first international IRONMAN 70.3 win for the 29-year-old triple Olympian, who was fifth last year at the Rio Olympics.

Kahlefeldt, who won last week at Subic Bay, finished over three minutes back in second while a 1:21 run from Shorets landed her a third place finish more than 10 minutes clear of fourth place.

The rapidly evolving lure of Asian races was in full-force with the podiums secured by athletes from Switzerland, USA, Chile, Czech Republic, and Russia.

IRONMAN Set to Return to Langkawi with Two Races

IRONMAN announced that Langkawi Island, the Jewel of Kedah, will continue to host IRONMAN Malaysia in 2017 with the support of Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. The tropical paradise island will also be the venue of an additional race in 2017: IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi. Both races are scheduled to take place on November 11, 2017.

"We are truly happy about this announcement as IRONMAN Malaysia has become a staple on the Asian triathlon calendar for the past few years," said Geoff Meyer, Asia Managing Director for IRONMAN. "We have received strong support from participants and the local community, and are extremely excited to welcome more athletes to such an amazing destination with the addition of IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi."

Athletes will begin with a 3.8km swim embracing Pantai Kok pristine white sandy beach and crystal blue waters of the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark. The two-loop bike course heads to Jalan Teluk Yu on a clockwise loop from the Northwest point of the island around the rolling hills of Datai towards the South eastern part of Langkawi. Passing through several local villages, athletes will enjoy the colorful sights and sounds of the island. At the end of the second loop, athletes will continue along the coastline of Pantai Kok, heading to the Mahsuri International Exhibition Center. The run course will showcase the best Malaysia has to offer, as athletes run along the scenic ocean front of Cenang Beach. The tropical flat run course brings athletes to the finish line on the beachfront of Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa at the end of their second lap.

IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi will give athletes the opportunity to race on the same course as they will cover half the distance (1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run). With the introduction of IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi, set to take place on Saturday 11 November 2017, IRONMAN 70.3 Putrajaya will be discontinued in 2017. 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi will be an age group race only offering 30 qualifying slots for the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.

2017 IRONMAN Malaysia will offer a $25,000 USD professional prize purse and 40 age-group qualifying slots for the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States of America. 2017 IRONMAN Malaysia and 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi races are part of the 2018 Asia TriClub Qualifier Series. General registration for IRONMAN Malaysia, will open on Monday 20 March, 2017 and general registration for IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi, will open on Tuesday 18 April, 2017.

Final Week to Enter the Kona Drawing

This year, The IRONMAN Foundation is offering a drawing for 10 slots, with a suggested (tax deductible) donation of $50.00 to benefit the Foundation's charitable giveback in communities around the world. The drawing will begin on Friday, February 24, 2017, and finish on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 12 pm ET. Selected athletes will be announced on Friday, March 31.

ICYMI: Sarah Piampiano and Lucy Gossage Take Over the IRONMAN Facebook

Registration Radar

Sold out: IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside and IRONMAN 70.3 Texas are completely sold out this season, however, there are plenty of North American half-distance events that are still registering general entry athletes like IRONMAN 70.3 Coeur d'Alene and IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder.